The Cursed One by Ronda Thompson

Book Description:
Wed and widowed in one day, stunning socialite Amelia Sinclair's honeymoon is anything but typical. Then again, neither is Amelia - rebellious and impulsive, marrying Robert Collingsworth was the one sensible thing she ever did. Now he's dead and she must escape the vicious creatures stalking her - even if it means relying on a stranger. Well, maybe not a complete stranger. Amelia first glimpsed Gabriel Wulf years ago on the busy streets of London; since then he has haunted her dreams. But in the flesh, Gabriel is much more tantalizing than she ever dreamt, and much more complicated…

Gabriel Wulf, the strong one, the sensible one - the family, and the curse that plagues them, are his only priorities; there was little time for women and none for love. Now, he must protect an enticing beauty - and not just from the dangers that prowl the woods around them. Gabriel has secrets, dark ones he's sure Amelia must never know and could never understand. But she has already awakened his heart...and the beast within. Will Amelia be the key to his salvation, or the architect of her own demise?

Quickie Review:
This is the last of the Wild Wulfs series, which overall I found to be good if you like werewolf paranormals.  Unfortunately, Gabriel's story was my least favorite of the bunch about these werewolf brothers. 

The premise of The Cursed One is that on an estate nearby to the Wulf's country estate, strange doings are going on in the woods.  Gabriel's childhood friend, Robert has just gotten married and taken his bride to his home for their wedding night.  Yet, something terrible happens and he turns into a vicious monster - a werewolf and tries to attack and rape his new bride, Amelia.  Amelia is having none of this and escapes.  Conveniently, Gabriel happens to be passing by and hears the commotion going on at the nearby empty estate (all the servants have fled the house, except one who remained, a young girl).  Gabriel's comes to Amelia's rescue and kills "Robert."  But as we find out, it wasn't really Robert is was someone else who was able to take his form.  Robert is dead in the cellar.  Thus, Amelia, who happens to be Gabriel's sister's old school chum, is a widow on her wedding day.  She's not all that broken up about it for she has secretly had a thing for Gabriel for years.  They also share a passionate kiss upstairs after Gabriel kills the monster.  Little does she know about the Wulf family curse that turns them into werewolves when they fall in love and the moon is full.  Gabriel, Amelia and the young servant girl must fend off the monsters from the woods that are trying to attack them and invade the manor house.  Their mission:  to make it to the safety of Gabriel's home, which is unfortunately a few days away on foot.  Not an easy task.

Along the way, Gabriel and Amelia's growing attraction becomes stronger and stronger.  Without his control, he's giving off strong pheromones that are driving Amelia mad - she's dying to kiss him and be with him.  The feeling is mutual, but he fights it for he feels the beast in him gaining control and he's afraid he's not going to be able to stop himself from shifting into a wolf.  The other girl, who's name I can't remember plus I never trusted her anyway, is hiding a secret as well which comes out in the end. (I told you I didn't trust her.)  Will Gabriel's lust and growing love for Amelia turn him into a werewolf before her very eyes?  What will she do when she finds out he is like the very monsters they're running away from?

Overall this romance just didn't do much for me.  For one thing I didn't like Amelia at all.  Uh-oh.  That's a surefire way for me to not get into a book.  She was bratty and annoying and grated on me through the whole thing.  Of course, she grows up a lot over the course of time (a few days) when they are trudging around in the woods and avoiding monsters, yet I never warmed up to her at all.  Not one bit.  I don't know how Gabriel could even stand to be around her, much less fall in love with her!  By the end, she redeems herself and loses her pride and lah-dee-dah ways when all is revealed, but she'd already lost me by then.  She realizes that she loves Gabriel no matter what he is.  Ho-hum, same scenario as in the last two books.  Gabriel, for a hunky werewolf shifter was just boring.  His entire dilemma consisted of trying to overcome his illogical lust for this bratty annoying widow who is making the long trek to his family estate feel like it's taking an eternity!

To sum it up, there was nothing very memorable for me about this book and I only continued with it because it was the last in the series, which started out well.  I trudged through this one.  I still have to read a novella from an anthology that deals with one of the other brothers, but then I'm done!  If you like werewolf paranormals that take place during Regency times I recommend this series, but overall I found it uneven, but maybe you'll feel differently. 

3/5

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The Untamed One by Ronda Thompson

 Book Description:
Running from angry villagers and the man who ravaged her, the witch Lucinda flees into the forest to have her child. But Lord Jackson Wulf hunts her down, believing her death will break the family curse that transforms him into a monster. Instead of killing the witch, Jackson is moved by her beauty and desperate plight.  Lucinda seizes the chance to find safety for herself and her babe when a bargain is struck between this outcast woman and this doomed man--and sealed by their marriage in name only…

In return for his protection, Lucinda has promised that her magic can free Jackson from his torment. But this pretty witch soon finds herself in danger of being seduced by Jackson's charms and pursued by the man who would see both her and her child dead. Can she trust a Wulf with her safety and the safety of her child? Can she trust her heart to Jackson? To surrender to a Wulf is a terrible risk, for love will either unleash the beast within the man...or finally set him free. 

Another installment in the Wild Wulfs of London series.  This is book two, involving Jackson.  I like this regency historical paranormal series, which involves the notorious Wulf Brothers who must break the family curse that has made them werewolves whenever the full moon rises.

Jackson Wulf is on a mission.  He has learned that a certain witch who lives a reclusive life in a cottage deep in a distant forest from town might be able to break the family curse.  Yet, in order for her to do so, he must kill her.  Upon entering the lonely cottage, he meets a young woman, Lucinda, who is unexpectedly in the midst of giving birth.  It turns out she is the witch he has sought out.  He cannot go through with killing the young and beautiful woman.  He helps deliver her baby instead.   They form a bond and kiss afterwards, but immediately following the tender moment between them, the nearby villagers descend upon the cottage, intending to burn it down.  They fear Jackson, whom they know to be a werewolf and want to destroy him.  In order to protect Lucinda, Jackson saves her by turning into a wolf to fend off the villagers while she runs for her life with her newborn.

Months later, Jackson returns to London to find that the same witch, Lucinda, is firmly ensconced in his home, posing as his wife! She is also claiming the baby is his!  Jackson is taken aback at first, but he vividly remembers Lucinda and he cannot turn his back on her.  They strike up a bargain that if he goes along with the charade and does not reveal the truth that they were not really married, she will try and help break the spell.  

Due to a series of events, Jackson insists on marrying Lucinda in order to protect her from the baby's real father who wants both Lucinda and the baby dead.  He promised her directly after the baby was born, while still in the cottage, that he would see to it the babe would always be safe.  This promise comes back to haunt him more than once.  Lucinda had been defiled by the local lord of the manor (a distant relation to the king) while she was drugged and remembers none of it, except that she wound up pregnant.  Her baby bears the unmistakable family birthmark on him, which can only now pose a danger to his life.  Jackson is unaware of the circumstances that led to Lucinda's pregnancy or the birthmark, but he assumes she had been free and easy with her virtue and he considers her fair game for himself.  

After they marry, Lucinda keeps telling him their marriage is in name only, but Jackson has other plans.  His "werewolf" scent unconsciously drives women wild.  He is irresistible and terribly handsome.  It's all Lucinda can do to keep her hands off him.   He is single-minded when it comes to seducing her, but Lucinda is afraid to give in to him.  She doesn't believe he will still want her once she helps him break the curse.  Then where will she be?  Can they come to terms with each other and give in to their mutual passion, or will Lucinda keep putting him off over and over again while seeking the answer towards breaking the curse?

Overall this was a good story and I enjoyed it, though their constant misunderstanding of each other's feelings drove me crazy!  They love one another, yet neither one of them knows it!  Grr!  She thinks he'll drop her once he's no longer a werewolf, yet she wants to insure he'll take care of her baby if he does!   She's falling in love but they come from completely different worlds, how can she manage to pass herself off as a "Lady" of the ton?  He finds himself falling for her against his will even though he keeps telling himself it's only lust.  But he's growing attached to Lucinda and the baby he now thinks of as his own.  Too attached.  He hates the idea of losing them, they've become too important to him.  But, there's that damnable curse that says he must not marry the one he loves!  Yet, he's already married to her.  Does that mean Lucinda will die because of the curse?  Will she be able to figure out a way to break it?  Let's just say all these questions are answered by the end of the book.

A quick read which will appeal to werewolf and paranormal lovers who also enjoy historical romances.  A nice combination of the two genres.  But keep in mind, the whole thing is extremely far-fetched and there's not a whole lot of deep character development or anything that's going to make me remember this book forever.  Still, it kept my attention, the sexual tension went on for too long, but I liked it overall.  But please don't take it too seriously, it's just pure fantasy.  I like these passionate regency werewolves, so I'm eager to read on in the series!


4/5

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The Dark One by Ronda Thompson

Book Description:
Rosalind Rutherford knows full well the scandal she courts when she attempts to seduce the notorious Armond Wulf—in fact, she’s counting on it as a means to escape her sadistic stepbrother’s control. Unfortunately, Lord Wulf’s better instincts prevail...although not before he gives Rosalind a tantalizing taste of what she’s missing. And when the opportunity arises to rescue Armond from a grim fate while changing her own, Rosalind knows she must seize it...

Armond can no more ignore the Rutherford woman than his ancestor could resist the temptress who cursed the Wulf men with a terrifying transformation that occurs at the appearance of the full moon—and is set in motion by love. Now, to save her reputation and his freedom, Armond must marry Rosalind. But he vows that while they may share the pleasures of the marriage bed, she will never have his heart...

Yet as strange and mysterious events bring them closer in body and soul, Armond finds it increasingly difficult to keep his feelings for his new wife locked away. Especially when the reality of unquenchable desire—and certain danger—burn stronger than ever by the light of a full moon.

I really enjoyed this first in the Wild Wulfs of London paranormal Regency series of four brothers that are cursed to be werewolves unless they can break the spell that takes over when they each fall in love.  Having witnessed what befell their father before he commit suicide and later drove their mother insane, they have sworn to never fall in love with a woman nor marry.  When Armond Wulf, the eldest of the four meets Rosalind Rutherford, he cannot resist her and he becomes sorely tempted to break his vow regarding love and marriage.

Armond Wulf is a bad boy.  Lion-like with a mane of blond hair, he exudes danger and sexuality.  Women are afraid of him, yet vastly attracted to him as well. He's just what Rosalind Rutherford needs.  Rosalind is a desperate woman.  Trapped and at the mercy of her psychopathic stepbrother, Franklin, who plans on marrying his virgin stepsister off to the highest bidder to pay off his gambling debts, she intends on ruining her own reputation so that her brother will not be able to marry her off.  (Never mind that he'll probably beat her to a pulp when he finds out what she did!) How convenient that the notorious Armond Wulf is her next-door neighbor in London.  She's heard enough about him so that if she is seen leaving with him, she will be ruined by the next morning.   The plan makes no sense, but as a plot device, it works for it forces Rosalind to proposition Armond at a ball. 

Instantly attracted to her upon first sight, he doesn't hesitate in leaving with her, thinking she's had some experience in this sort of thing before.  Armond likes to act the part of ne'er do well rake, but he has a conscience.  Once he realizes Rosalind is an innocent he decides to teach her a lesson, thinking she's merely propositioning him on a dare in front of her friends.  Once inside his enclosed carriage, Rosalind loses her nerve, but not after sampling some of the kisses from the experienced Armond who leaves an indelible impression upon Rosalind's memory. 

Little does Armond know of the danger that Rosalind faces daily while living in her brother's house.  Her reputation remained intact after that night, but Armond becomes curious about his lovely neighbor and cannot forget her.  They see each other again at a party and, although she has a veil, he notices the bruises on her face and arms and puts two and two together about her brother, who is beating her.   It doesn't take Armond long to figure out what's going on.  His sense of nobility will not allow her to remain at the mercy of her brother.

A series of events take place so that Armond must marry Rosalind.  His brothers are aghast and against the idea, but there is nothing he can do.  He must marry her in order to save her reputation (ironic, isn't it?)   But, there's still the niggling problem with the family curse.  Armond is starting to notice more and more that he's developing supernatural powers and the closer he gets to Rosalind and the stronger his feelings for her, the more his werewolf senses come to the surface.  He's worried of what Rosalind will think when she realizes she's married to a werewolf!  He shuts himself off from her to protect her, much to her chagrin.  She likes being his wife - and in his bed.

This is where the book turned angsty and I had to keep reading until I got to the very end.  Rosalind's hands are really full!  Even though she is left in the dark about the Wulf curse, she finds a poem that was written about it and starts to figure things out for herself.  She suspects what's happening to Armond and wants to help him break the curse.  Can she?  Can her acceptance of him as he is, break the curse?  Will he give her the chance to even try? Meanwhile, her stepbrother is furious she eloped with Armond, foiling his plans for paying off his gambling debts.  The debts go to a particularly loathsome man, who it turns out is a pervert and has his sights on Rosalind.   His plans for her - with her stepbrother - are beyond repulsive.

The book becomes especially exciting, though nerve wracking.  Though Rosalind is now married and under the protection of the Wulf's, she is still constantly putting herself in danger by visiting her ailing stepmother next door at her brother's house, while he is not home.  It drove me crazy, especially since she always seemed to do it when Armond wasn't around to rescue her (against his implicit instructions, btw!)  Of course, you know what happens!   It's a long story and all hell breaks loose!  Between Armond having to defend himself from being accused of murder and Rosalind having an extremely close call with her stepbrother and his evil friend, it was a real nail biter by the end!

There are two more books in this series and a novella, so that all four brothers are covered in the series. I was so sorry to learn that the author, Ronda Thompson, tragically died in 2007 of cancer.  I really loved this book,  and I'm eager to read the next.  A worthwhile historical paranormal!

4/5

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